Solar-powering the future

Feadship Makkum yard shines light on sustainable yachtbuilding

Feadship’s mission to build pure custom superyachts in the greenest way possible has received a further boost with 420 new solar panels going online at its yard in Makkum. The giant facility, one of four Feadship yards in the Netherlands, has recently opened a second construction hall along with a dedicated helicopter platform.

The solar panels have been placed on the new construction hall, which includes a 112-metre dry dock and was built to the very latest energy standards in terms of consumption and lighting. Generating 180 MWh of electricity a year, equivalent to the annual requirements of 52 households, the energy from the panels will be used to support new-build and refit activities. In addition, the hall’s striking white roof will help keep the facility cool in the summer months.

“This latest investment in Makkum reflects an organisation-wide commitment at Feadship to build yachts in a carbon-neutral manner by 2025. Every part of the Feadship group is leading the way in reducing the ecological footprint of the superyacht sector as a whole. From the way we build yachts to lifecycle assessment studies aimed at reducing material waste, this philosophy applies to every aspect of our work. Ongoing research into how Feadships can become more sustainable is having a genuine impact.”

– Sijbrand de Vries, director.

Eco-friendly assets

The Makkum facility is not alone in augmenting the way it generates energy. The Feadship yard in Aalsmeer had 1500 solar panels installed on its various rooftops in the summer of 2020, and these are now producing some 530 MWh a year. Meanwhile, no less than 2262 solar panels were placed on the new Amsterdam yard prior to its opening in 2019. This facility in the Dutch capital is generating 550 MWh per year as well as showcasing other eco-friendly assets such as district heating and LED lighting.

Sustainability in its widest sense is embedded in the strategy at Feadship. It was a founding member of the Water Revolution Foundation, which recently won the Robb Report’s prestigious Sustainability Award. The Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI) initiated by Feadship is now developing into an industry-wide measurement tool. Feadship’s revolutionary and patented Oxywash technology for exhaust gas treatment is proving an excellent innovation while research into fuel flexibility is offering owners a unique way to future-proof their new Feadship

Easy access

Back at the Makkum yard, which celebrated its fifteenth birthday in 2020, the workforce are making optimal use of both the new construction hall and the existing facility, with its 120- metre dry dock. The location is a one hour’s drive from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or a 20-minute helicopter ride, hence the recent completion of a dedicated helipad which is already proving popular among clients. The facility is likely to benefit soon from the extended width of the nearby lock, offering instant access to the North Sea to the widest Feadships imaginable.